[Boxer]

Originally Posted by Bas Jaski

Thanks for the reply. I haven't enjoyed being inside an F50 just yet (currently living in Africa doesn't help things) so for now youtube video's will do...The sound the F50 delivers boggles the mind, it's fantastic (same goes for the CGT, but between the two its easy...F50 noise hands down!). You're a lucky man.

I've been browsing the forum over the past few days and I see quite a few familiar names pop up, mainly from the 550 crowd with Taz's extensive knowledge and Onno's endless awesome stories

Taz's knowledge is simply amazing and Onno is always up for a great trip. There are quite a few people who have moved over to FLife recently. I think you will find it a very different atmosphere here. While smaller, just about everyone here is either an owner or hard core enthusiasts.

Regarding the videos, a few of mine are

Boxer365BB's Channel - YouTube

[Boxer]

212 Export's write up on his first drive in his new F50 inspired me to pull the cover off and take mine out for a drive today. First time the poor thing has moved in six weeks but today was a decent day for it. Clear, a bit of sun, and temps at least slightly above freezing. As usual it fired right up on the first stab of the starter button and settled into a smooth idle after a minute. Then it was back out of the garage and a few more mintues to let things start to warm up before heading out. As soon as the water temp display started to light up, off we went. As the roads were cold, revs were kept around 2000 rpm for the first 10 minutes and then slowly increased as a bit of warmth got into the tyres. However, 6000 rpms was about as high as we pushed it today as I do prefer the back end to remain directly behind the front end. It is always an experience to get out in the F50. The engine noise is simply unique, the responsiveness phenomenal, and the gearbox incredibly smooth and fast. As soon as you get up a bit of speed, the whole car just shrinks around you. You almost feel like you are a part of the car as it flows so smoothly and instantly with each input.

Drive was up and around the usual 30 minute loop with a petrol stop at the end to top off the bags (I always try to keep the tanks full). Then it was back into the garage and onto the battery tender.

Hopefully the weather will be good again next weekend.

[tazandjan]

Boxer- That sounds like fun. I notice no driver's aids like ABS, traction control, or power steering, but it does have a system to raise the nose for bumps at low speeds. Must be a blast to drive, but something that could bite you in slippery conditions.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by tazandjan

Boxer- That sounds like fun. I notice no driver's aids like ABS, traction control, or power steering, but it does have a system to raise the nose for bumps at low speeds. Must be a blast to drive, but something that could bite you in slippery conditions.

It certainly can bite you. The grip levels are extremely high but when it goes, it goes very quickly. In some ways the F40 is actually the "safer" option in tricky conditions. With the twin turbos and brain thumping acceleration just a push of the right foot away, you don't ever get lulled into a false sense of security going faster than you should.

Having wagged the back end of the F50 on a track once when I ran out of brakes going into a tight left hander...........when it goes it goes but if you are quick enough, you can catch it (IMHO it is easier to catch than the 360 Challenge....when the Challenge starts to really rotate you are just along for the ride)

[tazandjan]

Boxer- Sounds like great fun, and the F50 (and maybe the new GTO) has the best engine note of all the street Ferraris.

Forza 4 Ferrari F50 sound - YouTube

[JazzyO]

Originally Posted by Bas Jaski

Onno's endless awesome stories

I'll take that as a complement Bas! Thanks.


Onno

[Vitalone]

Originally Posted by Boxer

212 Export's write up on his first drive in his new F50 inspired me to pull the cover off and take mine out for a drive today...

Fantastic that we get to share the feeling of being there with you and 212Export in your magnificent F50's. Thank you! Please keep the great driving and ownership reports rolling in.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by Vitalone

Fantastic that we get to share the feeling of being there with you and 212Export in your magnificent F50's. Thank you! Please keep the great driving and ownership reports rolling in.

Thanks. I do wish I had your skill with words.

[Boxer]

Beautiful clear blue sky here today and temps just north of freezing. Perfect day for a drive in the F50 so after lunch, we did exactly that.

Despite not having moved since mid December, the F50 started right up on the first jab of the starter button. The start up sequence is always a bit of a deep breath when the F50 hasn't been run in a few weeks as the dreaded dead dashboard threat always is in the back of the mind. After a few minutes to start to get everything warmed up, we were off. As the roads (and tyres) were still quite cold, and in shaded areas probably frozen, we started off very gently with the right foot. Even at modest rpms, the F50 sounds like nothing else on the road. Run it up the dial and that F1 derived scream is awe inspiring. After about twenty minutes, we hit an area with no traffic and clear sun drenched road and were able to open it up a bit. The steering and gearbox on the F50 are simply outstanding. The short throw stick is so smooth and fast it can be quite dangerous to your license. With the CF tub, body roll is non-existent and the nose does exactly where you want it. Despite the width, the F50 always shrinks around you and is very easy to place exactly where you want it on the road.

Did make one stop on the route today at a farmers market. The F50 is not quite a practical for the grocery run as the Mosler you can only fit 3 shopping bags in the front luggage bin vs 10. Comment of the day came as we were pulling into that parking lot "you know, this really is quite a bit louder than the FF"

On the way back, we hit one of my favorite pieces of pavement. Not another car in slight so it was a spirited run down. Long sweepers are ideal for the F50, don't think I even touched the brakes for the entire stint. So easy to drive using the throttle and gearbox to pull you into the corner and power out the other side.

All in, we did around 30 miles. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

[Barry]

Originally Posted by Boxer

On the way back, we hit one of my favorite pieces of pavement. Not another car in slight so it was a spirited run down. Long sweepers are ideal for the F50, don't think I even touched the brakes for the entire stint. So easy to drive using the throttle and gearbox to pull you into the corner and power out the other side.

Sounds perfect!

Have you thought about which one will be Highlands bound in May?

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by Barry

Sounds perfect!

Have you thought about which one will be Highlands bound in May?

Not sure yet. Will need to see what lives in the garage come May.

F40 and Mosler are the most likely right now. F50 might be an option.

[JazzyO]

Originally Posted by Boxer

Comment of the day came as we were pulling into that parking lot "you know, this really is quite a bit louder than the FF"

And ne'er a truer word was spoken!


Onno

[212Export]

Nice writeup, Boxer, Thank you. Glad your "50" was excercised yesterday. It was a fabulous day here as well but family asked for skiing...so I had to bend

The short gearing stick gets you well into dangerous zone and the LCD - kind of gauges as well, especially when the sun in wintertime stays low on the sky and in certain position to the driver, its hardly possible to see how fast you are in the car (as the car itself moves anyway much faster than you would guess). This, by a very minimal difference, almost let me loose my driver license Saturday for the first time in my life as they flashed me in such a situation.

[Boxer]

Took the F50 out for a great long drive a few days ago. Did a bit over 100 miles. It was a mini-farewell drive as the F50 is now off for its annual service and will probably be gone for several weeks (this is a big service as the fuel cells are being changed).

On a sunny day, there really is no greater car to be out in. Car ran beautifully and just kept getting stronger the longer it was out.

[Dan Harrison]

Have to express envy that you live where fuel cells are allowed. Here in the midwest US of A, our F40's have the rigid gas tank mandate. While we can enjoy Road America and Mid-Ohio, as well as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric opera, we have not yet figured that fuel cells are safer than rigid tanks ( one would think the argument on that issue was settled in the southwest Pacific in the 1940's... F4F versus the Zero... ).
Happy motoring.

Dan Harrison

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by Dan Harrison

Have to express envy that you live where fuel cells are allowed. Here in the midwest US of A, our F40's have the rigid gas tank mandate. While we can enjoy Road America and Mid-Ohio, as well as the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Lyric opera, we have not yet figured that fuel cells are safer than rigid tanks ( one would think the argument on that issue was settled in the southwest Pacific in the 1940's... F4F versus the Zero... ).
Happy motoring.

Dan Harrison

I thought that US F50s and Enzos were allowed to have bag tanks. Is this not the case?

Ironically, quite a few UK F40 owners are having aluminum tanks fitted into their F40s to avoid the cost of future fuel cell replacements.

[Boxer]

Originally Posted by Boxer

Took the F50 out for a great long drive a few days ago. Did a bit over 100 miles. It was a mini-farewell drive as the F50 is now off for its annual service and will probably be gone for several weeks (this is a big service as the fuel cells are being changed).
.

The F50 comes back tomorrow from its annual service with a new fuel cell (this is my 2nd new fuel cell in 8 months as we changed the one on the Jaguar XJR-15 last fall). Took a bit longer than planned as we had to remanufacturer the fuel roll valves. Good new is that the F50 will be back in time for the weekend and is ready to go for the rest of the summer.

[tazandjan]

Boxer- Glad things worked out and other F50 owners will benefit from your manufacturing adventure.